The Art Of Letter Writing

Rediscovering The Handwritten Note

When was the last time you received a handwritten letter in the mail? Maybe your grandparents sent you a letter written in their beautiful cursive, or maybe you received one from a significant other. Who knows; either way, most people don't even sit down to handwrite a letter anymore. It's considered a chore in a way, and it's much easier to send a text or email. It makes us wonder what it was like when that was the only form of correspondence. Also, just imagine how long it would take to receive your message, unlike today, where it is instant, no problem. As much as we love convenience, writing messages doesn't seem to carry the same kind of personal weight that a letter does. For example, everyone had their own unique handwriting as well as imperfect spacing between words. And keep in mind that people spent way more time thinking about what they were going to say before they even put ink to paper. 

There was also something truly special about receiving a bunch of letters in the mail, and sitting down in the living room, going through, and reading all that your friends or family sent. I mean, think about it, people would sit down and tell a story about their life, especially if they lived far away and they never saw that friend or family member. Not only that, they often were a big keepsake among many and have stood in history as records we use to see what life was like back in the old days. It's amazing to see how much the world has changed since the 1800s. Sometimes I sit and wonder what it would be like to sit down and wait for a response to my letter. Then you also had to deal with the fact that the letter might get damaged while getting delivered. 

Also, did you know that letters used to never be folded into envelopes? Yes, they used to just write the letter and fold it in a very special sort of way. Then they would write the address on that same piece of paper and put it in the mail to be sent. Also, keep in mind that the recipient used to have to pay for the letters, not the sender, which makes no sense in this day and age. But that was how they did it. In fact, the writer often made sure they used as little paper as possible because it was cheaper for the receiver the less you used. Another beautiful thing about letters was that they used to be sealed with wax, which would be a pain to use in the modern postal system. 

You may have heard that love letters have been a thing for centuries. Not many do it anymore, but they meant a lot to someone you fell in love with and were looking to marry. It was also a good way to lay your affections out clearly in words. There is nothing more powerful than a well-written love letter, and that is something that can't be replaced. Maybe you have a husband or wife you want to say some words to, but don't know how to say them out loud. A letter is a wonderful way to show your love for that person. Plus, I cannot tell you how many men I've met today overestimate doing something like this. Sure, maybe a lot of women today wouldn't value something like that, but last I've checked, there are also a lot who would truly value it in a heartbeat.

Whatever it might be, maybe the next time you want to write something meaningful to somebody, write them a handwritten letter, whether it's a friend or family member, or you could even consider getting a pen pal, because why not? Also, think about how much more you could write in a letter compared to a text, because when you text someone long paragraphs, they get overwhelmed, but if you do it in a letter, they're not going to mind too much. In fact, they might like it more if your letter is a little longer, because it shows that you put a lot of effort into the words. In a world of digital noise, slowing down to practice the art of letter writing shows a level of true care that screens can never replace.